The Setting. Every book has one. Some are fictional. Some are real. But all are essential to the story and can help bring the story alive. So how do authors choose settings? Well, I asked a few friends and I’ll also tell you how I chose the setting of the manuscript I’m currently writing. So […]
The Joy of Reading
The Book of James tells us to “count it all joy” during trials. I admit, sometimes it’s hard to count my blessings when faced with adversity. But today, when I was thinking on it, I remembered how much the joy of reading has helped me. Reading can be the ultimate escape experience. It can take […]
From the Ground Up + #Giveaway
Have you ever wondered what kind of research and information goes into an author building a fictional country? For my newest release (Happy Release Day to me!), I decided to create a fictional country for the setting of In Search of a Prince. You say Brielle Adebayo, a 8th-grade civics teacher, discovers she’s really an African princess […]
Childhood Sweethearts (+giveaway)
What’s your favorite trope within CCR? I see this question asked a lot, and I have to admit I am one of those people who can’t choose a favorite ANYTHING to save her life. I mean, in all the breadth of the whole world, why would I limit myself? I do find myself drawn to […]
A Life to Live + #Giveaway
In January 2014, I made a New Year’s resolution to finally write a book from start to finish. Up until that point, I’d start a book then stop. I’d taken creative writing classes while pursuing a degree and fell in love with writing. I just couldn’t seem to finish a story. I’m usually anti New […]
Fall in Maple Run + #Giveaway
September 1st. A day that makes me smile and one that has my internal clock dreaming of all things fall. You know: pumpkin-flavored everything, apple cider, changing leaves, FOOTBALL, and cooler weather after sweltering heat. Oh and let’s not forget cute sweaters, open-front cardigans, boots, blankets, and a good book to curl up with! Obviously […]
Unkissable (and other unconventional titles)
The cover is unarguably the single biggest draw to a reader in deciding whether or not to choose a book. A close second, though, is often the title. Just the other day, I read a comment online from a woman who couldn’t bring herself to read a friend’s book simply because the single-word title was […]
The Sweetness of Spring
Inhale. Exhale. Do you smell that? The hint of spring coming? Hopefully you live in an area that isn’t covered in snow still. Hopefully your weather is warming. But even if your area isn’t showing hints of spring, there’s something about the turn of the calendar to March that just gives us that hope. We […]
Family Connections + Giveaway
Family, where would we be without them? I asked the authors of InspyRomance if they had any books based on family and got a hailstorm of information. We all seem to love seeing family connections in books and writers are glad to oblige. I always said, if I could only have one child, I wanted […]
An Unlikely Proposal + #Giveaway
It’s here!!!! (cue excited screams) My first Love Inspired book is out in the bookish world in ebook, print, and Large print. This is such a dream come true as I’ve tried multiple times in the past to write for them and the time and my writing finally worked out to where I got a […]